Liquid crystal display device and electronic apparatus

Abstract

According to an aspect, a liquid crystal display device includes: a first substrate and a second substrate that face each other; a liquid crystal layer provided between the first substrate and the second substrate; and a first electrode and a second electrode provided between the first substrate and the liquid crystal layer. The first electrode includes: at least an electrode base portion that extends in a first direction; and a plurality of comb-shaped portions that protrude from the electrode base portion at a fixed distance away from each other, and extend in a second direction different from the first direction. Each comb-shaped portion has a coupling portion layered on or under the electrode base portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A liquid crystal display device comprising:
 a first substrate and a second substrate that face each other; 
 a liquid crystal layer provided between the first substrate and the second substrate; 
 a first electrode and a second electrode provided between the first substrate and the liquid crystal layer; 
 a first orientation film provided between the first electrode and the liquid crystal layer, the first orientation film being subjected to a first orientation process in a first orientation direction so as to have a predetermined initial orientation characteristics in the first orientation direction; and 
 a plurality of data lines, 
 wherein the first electrode is one of a common electrode or a pixel electrode, wherein the second electrode is the pixel electrode when the first electrode is the common electrode, wherein the second electrode is the common electrode when the first electrode is the pixel electrode, wherein each of the data lines is coupled to corresponding pixel electrodes of a plurality of pixel electrodes including the pixel electrode, 
 wherein the first electrode includes:
 at least an electrode base portion that extends along the data lines; and 
 a plurality of comb-shaped portions that protrude from the electrode base portion at a fixed distance away from each other, and extend along the first orientation direction, 
 a first electrical resistance of the electrode base portion that is lower than a second electrical resistance of the plurality of comb-shaped portions, 
 wherein each of the plurality of comb-shaped portions formed of a translucent conductive material has:
 a coupling portion that is in direct contact with the electrode base portion formed of a metal material; and 
 a protruding portion that is different than the coupling portion in the each of the plurality of comb-shaped portions, and 
 the protruding portion having the second electrical resistance is disposed in a layer that also includes the electrode base portion having the first electrical resistance. 
 
 
 
     
     
       2. The liquid crystal display device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are arranged in a position where a horizontal electric field for driving the liquid crystal layer is generated. 
     
     
       3. The liquid crystal display device according to  claim 2 , wherein the first substrate, the second electrode, an insulating layer, and the first electrode are layered in this order. 
     
     
       4. The liquid crystal display device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 when a voltage is applied between the first electrode and the second electrode, in the liquid crystal layer, liquid crystal molecules in a first area near one of long sides of the plurality of comb-shaped portions that face each other in a width direction of a slit between adjacent comb-shaped portions of the plurality of comb-shaped portions and liquid crystal molecules in a second area near another one of the long sides of the plurality of comb-shaped portions that face each other rotate in opposite directions to each other. 
 
     
     
       5. The liquid crystal display device according to  claim 1 , further comprising
 a second orientation film provided between the second substrate and the liquid crystal layer, wherein 
 the second orientation film is subjected to a second orientation process in a second orientation direction that is antiparallel to the first orientation direction, and 
 when a voltage is not applied between the first electrode and the second electrode, 
 long axes of liquid crystal molecules are aligned and oriented in the first orientation direction. 
 
     
     
       6. The liquid crystal display device according to  claim 5 , wherein
 when the voltage is applied between the first electrode and the second electrode, long-axis directions of the liquid crystal molecules are oriented so that the liquid crystal molecules rise toward a direction perpendicular to the first substrate while rotating clockwise in a first area near one of long sides of the plurality of comb-shaped portions that face each other in a width direction of a slit and rotating counterclockwise in a second area near another one in an in-plane direction of the first substrate. 
 
     
     
       7. The liquid crystal display device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the electrode base portion is provided under the coupling portion. 
 
     
     
       8. A liquid crystal display device comprising:
 a first substrate and a second substrate that face each other; 
 a liquid crystal layer provided between the first substrate and the second substrate; 
 a first electrode and a second electrode provided between the first substrate and the liquid crystal layer; 
 a first orientation film provided between the first electrode and the liquid crystal layer, the first orientation film being subjected to a first orientation process in a first orientation direction so as to have a predetermined initial orientation characteristics in the first orientation direction; and 
 a second orientation film provided between the second substrate and the liquid crystal layer, 
 wherein the first electrode is one of a common electrode or a pixel electrode, wherein the second electrode is the pixel electrode when the first electrode is the common electrode, wherein the second electrode is the common electrode when the first electrode is the pixel electrode, 
 wherein a plurality of pixel electrodes are arranged in a matrix, 
 wherein the first electrode includes:
 at least an electrode base portion; and 
 a plurality of comb-shaped portions that protrude from the electrode base portion at a fixed distance away from each other, and extend along the first orientation direction, 
 wherein each of the plurality of comb-shaped portions formed of a translucent conductive material has:
 a coupling portion that is in direct contact with the electrode base portion formed of a metal material; and 
 a protruding portion that different than the coupling portion in the each of the plurality of comb-shaped portions, 
 wherein the protruding portion is disposed in a layer that also includes the electrode base portion, 
 
 wherein the second orientation film is subjected to a second orientation process in a second orientation direction that is antiparallel to the first orientation direction, and 
 when a voltage is not applied between the first electrode and the second electrode, long axes of liquid crystal molecules are aligned and oriented in the first orientation direction. 
 
 
     
     
       9. The liquid crystal display device according to  claim 8 , further comprising
 a plurality of data lines, each of the plurality of data lines coupled to corresponding pixel electrodes of the plurality of pixel electrodes, 
 wherein the electrode base portion is overlapped by one of the plurality of data lines. 
 
     
     
       10. The liquid crystal display device according to  claim 9 , further comprising a driver integrated circuit (IC), wherein the electrode base portion is coupled with the driver IC. 
     
     
       11. The liquid crystal display device according to  claim 8 , wherein
 the electrode base portion is disposed on a boundary between adjacent pixel electrodes of the plurality of pixel electrodes, and 
 each of the plurality of comb-shaped portions extends along the first orientation direction in which the plurality of pixel electrodes are arranged. 
 
     
     
       12. The liquid crystal display device according to  claim 8 , further comprising a black matrix disposed on the second substrate,
 wherein the electrode base portion is overlapped by the black matrix. 
 
     
     
       13. The liquid crystal display device according to  claim 12 , wherein
 the electrode base portion is disposed on a boundary between adjacent pixel electrodes of the plurality of pixel electrodes, and 
 each of the plurality of comb-shaped portions extends along the first orientation direction in which the plurality of pixel electrodes are arranged. 
 
     
     
       14. The liquid crystal display device according to  claim 13 , further comprising a driver integrated circuit (IC),
 wherein the electrode base portion is coupled with the driver IC. 
 
     
     
       15. An electronic apparatus comprising
 a liquid crystal display device; and 
 a control device that supplies an input signal to the liquid crystal display device, the liquid crystal display device comprising:
 a first substrate and a second substrate that face each other; 
 a liquid crystal layer provided between the first substrate and the second substrate; and 
 a first electrode and a second electrode provided between the first substrate and the liquid crystal layer; 
 a first orientation film provided between the first electrode and the liquid crystal layer, the first orientation film being subjected to a first orientation process in a first orientation direction so as to have a predetermined initial orientation characteristics in the first orientation direction; and 
 a plurality of data lines, 
 wherein the first electrode is one of a common electrode or a pixel electrode, wherein the second electrode is the pixel electrode when the first electrode is the common electrode, wherein the second electrode is the common electrode when the first electrode is the pixel electrode, wherein each of the data lines is coupled to corresponding pixel electrodes of a plurality of pixel electrodes including the pixel electrode, 
 wherein the first electrode includes:
 at least an electrode base portion that extends along the data lines; and 
 a plurality of comb-shaped portions that protrude from the electrode base portion at a fixed distance away from each other, and extend along the first orientation direction, 
 
 a first electrical resistance of the electrode base portion that is lower than a second electrical resistance of the plurality of comb-shaped portions, 
 wherein each of the plurality of comb-shaped portions formed of a translucent conductive material has:
 a coupling portion that is in direct contact with the electrode base portion formed of a metal material; and 
 a protruding portion that is different than the coupling portion in the each of the plurality of comb-shaped portions, and 
 the protruding portion having the second electrical resistance is disposed in a layer that also includes the electrode base portion having the first electrical resistance. 
 
 
 
     
     
       16. The electronic apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are arranged in a position where a horizontal electric field for driving the liquid crystal layer is generated. 
     
     
       17. The electronic apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the first substrate, the second electrode, an insulating layer, and the first electrode are layered in this order. 
     
     
       18. The electronic apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein
 when a voltage is applied between the first electrode and the second electrode, in the liquid crystal layer, liquid crystal molecules in a first area near one of long sides of the plurality of comb-shaped portions that face each other in a width direction of a slit between adjacent comb-shaped portions of the plurality of comb-shaped portions and liquid crystal molecules in a second area near another one of the long sides of the plurality of comb-shaped portions that face each other rotate in opposite directions to each other. 
 
     
     
       19. The electronic apparatus according to  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a second orientation film provided between the second substrate and the liquid crystal layer, wherein 
 the second orientation film is subjected to a second orientation process in a second orientation direction that is antiparallel to the first orientation direction, and 
 when a voltage is not applied between the first electrode and the second electrode, 
 long axes of liquid crystal molecules are aligned and oriented in the first orientation direction. 
 
     
     
       20. The electronic apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein
 when the voltage is applied between the first electrode and the second electrode, long-axis directions of the liquid crystal molecules are oriented so that the liquid crystal molecules rise toward a direction perpendicular to the first substrate while rotating clockwise in a first area near one of long sides of the plurality of comb-shaped portions that face each other in a width direction of a slit and rotating counterclockwise in a second area near another one in an in-plane direction of the first substrate. 
 
     
     
       21. The electronic apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein
 the electrode base portion is provided under the coupling portion.